Brian Garcia: A journey of Grace, Forgiveness and Fatherhood

1. Looking back, what was your relationship like with your dad growing up, and how did that shape your view of fatherhood—or even God as a Father?

“Growing up, my relationship with my dad was unbreakable. We were inseparable. I just wanted to be around him all the time. He was a worship leader, and I vividly remember being right by his side as he prepared songs for Sunday services. I looked up to him so much. Sundays were the highlight of my week because I got to watch him lead worship. Everyone knew I was Tommy’s boy, and that made me feel proud.

But when my parents split up, everything changed. The father I once knew seemed to disappear. I was devastated, confused, and angry. It felt like my family had shattered—and with it, my identity as his son. That break in our relationship left a deep wound and affected the way I viewed fatherhood and even God as a Father. I carried that pain for a long time.”

2. What led you to a place of grace and forgiveness? Was there a specific moment or realization that helped you move toward reconciliation with your dad?

“That anger followed me for years, but everything began to change when I gave my life to the Lord. I realized that in order to grow spiritually and emotionally, I needed to let go of the bitterness I had been holding on to. The more I grew in my relationship with Jesus, the more I understood the power and necessity of forgiveness.

Eventually, I found the courage to forgive my dad. As I released the weight of unforgiveness, something in me shifted. Slowly but surely, we began to rebuild our relationship. And in time, he became my number one again. I can truly say that God restored what was broken.”

3. Now that your father has passed, what do you hope others will take away from your story—especially those who may still have the opportunity to honor or reconcile with their fathers?

“Looking back, I’ve come to understand that my dad was shaped by his own pain. His father, my grandfather, wasn’t present. He was always working in the fields, and probably never modeled what it meant to be a good father or husband. That legacy of brokenness was passed down, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Because God forgives us, we’re called to forgive others, including our parents. I believe my dad did the best he could with what he had, and I’m thankful for the moments we were able to share after choosing reconciliation.

It’s been almost a month since he passed, and there’s an empty place in my heart. I miss our phone calls and the time we spent together. But even in the grief, I find peace in knowing he’s now with Jesus, and joy in the hope that one day, I’ll see him again.”

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4

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